1 In Japan, there's a monster lurking in the dark.2 This monster is called the Japanese giant salamander.3 The Japanese giant salamander has a broad head and a huge mouth. Its slimy skin is wrinkled and marked with warts. Its legs are short and chubby. Its body is brownish gray and has dark spots all over it. The animal can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh nearly 55 pounds. It is one of the biggest amphibians in the world!4 If we want to find a Japanese giant salamander out in the wild, we need to know where to look first.